28 The Religion of the Veda.

fondly derive their descent from such :3. Riehi. The hymns themselves state this repeatedlymnuoh end such a. poet has; seen‘ such and such a hymnmw: the exact value of this claim is; not calein eetixnntorl. The names of these traditional Rishie have :1 good ring in Incliu at all timoS. They are in the order of Books; iiwvii, Gttenmudn, Vigvfin’litrn,V.€immlovn, Atri} Bhurndvfijn, and Vnsiehtha. The eighth book and the first fifty hymns of the first hook are ascribed to the family of Room; they are marked off even superficially from the rest, because they are nrrnngetl strophically in groups of two or three stenzne. These form the bulk of those stamens which, set: to music, reappear in the Bowel/"ode. The ninth book, a. kind of Bacchic collection or text~book, is addressed to the deified plant some, and the liquor pressed from it.“ This same: drink furnishes by far the most pre~ cious libation to the gods. They are supposed to intoxicate themselves with it unto greet deeds of valor. The remainder of the first book and the entire tenth book are more miscellaneous in churn acter and problematic as to intention and arrange ment. To some extent, though by no means en» tirely, they are of later origin and from a different sphere, in part of distinctly popular character, very

1 That is, has had revealed to him. 9 See below, p. I4 5.